Compare towns
Townshend vs Windham vs Fairlee vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Pomfret has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Townshend | Windham | Fairlee | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
594Lowest |
1,066 |
908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.4±12.1 24% above VT |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
| Windham and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$399,200±$144kHighest 26% above VT |
| Pomfret and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
— | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,170±$98Highest 5% below VT |
| Pomfret and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364Lowest 6% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.